Conveyor device



L. G. ROLLINS CONVEYOR DEVICE FiledvJune 17, 1960 Sept. 1o, 1963 ynul- 2 FIG.2.

Il 3733 2245|50 2O 3129 I I I n/l 45 44 344 0 2| 25 2l30 3,4

FIGB.

l 45 47 48 3l 2,8 48 2O lNvE N'ToR: LESTER G. RoLLlNs ATTORNEY Filed June 17, 1960, Ser. No. 36,838 Claims. (Cl. 198-176) This invention relates to a conveyor device and more particularly to a flight conveyor having a novel structure for mounting the flight to 'a chain assembly.

Conveyor devices comprising a central chain with elongated flights extending laterally oppositely from opposite sides of the central chain are extensively used for the conveying of material. These types of conveyor devices 4are used in conjunction with flat sur-faces over which they travel, wherein the laterally extending flights cooperate with the flat surfaces or deck to move material therealong. Where such conveyor devices are used on loading machines, the ights are required to move heavy materials such as large masses of coal, rock, iron ore, etc. which large masses of material are moved along the deck plates by the conveyor flights. -In such structures the chain flights travel closely to the decks and are frequently in contact with the deck plates so that breakage of the flights occurs due to the heavy bending stresses or sudden jarring such as where large chunks of material drop from above onto the flights. ln view lof these -conditions it is desired that the conveyor device having the chain portion -as strong as possible and that .the scraper flights be connectable to the chain in an effectively rigid manner and at the same time i-n a manner so that the scraper flights may be readily replaced. It is fur-ther desirable, since the llights are to be replaced, that the scraper llights be rmly and securely maintained in their adjusted position and that rugged connections be used to maintain the flights in position.

Prior known conveyor devices with scraper iiights have used stud bolts or pins threaded `at both ends wherein each end is also provided with recessed shoulders for spacing the ilights connected thereto. The diiiiculty encountered was that the nuts would work loose thereby permitting .the iiights to set up concentrated stresses which caused the flights or bolts to fail. In .addition the shoul-` ders being notched or recessed would set up undesirable stresses at weak points of structure and thereby cause premature failure across the shoulders of the stud. A further relinement on scraper flights used a tapered end stud bolt to properly locate the flights, however, the tolerance requirements are high `and difficulty in alignment along with undesirable stresses are encountered if the high tolerances are not maintained.

The present invention provides a conveyor device with new and improved alignment and spacing of the scraper llights .thus eliminating structural weaknesses while positively maintaining the scraperl flights in lixed relationship to the stud bolts to minimize the stress concentrations vfor a Ilonger useful life while permitting a lgreater degree of machining tolerances with ready replaceability of the scraper flights `and its component parts.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a new and improved conveyor device of the scraper flight type having replaceable ilights.

A further object of this invention is to provide a conveyor device having new and improved connecting means between replaceable ilights and the chain or the liight moving means.

lt 4is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved conveyor chain having replaceable -ight Scrapers which .are rigidly maintained in their ixed positions through the use of self-tightening lock means.

A further object of this invention is provide a new United States Patent O 2 .and improved conveyor chai-n. havin-g replaceable opposed flight Scrapers with connecting means extending therebetween which connecting means employs tapered washers that, cooperate with a tapered surface on the scraper flights, respectively, to securely maintain the scraper flights in operating position.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the `following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken i-n conjunction with the yfollowing drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor device constructed in accordance with'the principles of this invention having a pair of scraper flights connected to a pair of universal joints of a suitable roller chain structure.

FIG; 2 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the conveyor device as shown in FIG. 1 taken on lines 2--2 thereof.

FG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken `on lines 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 3.

As is wellknown in the art, a Hight conveyor chain comprises a plurality of elongated laterally spaced pairs of links B which pairs of links B are suitably pivotably joined at the ends thereof to adjacent pairs of links B by suitable laterally extending pins 5, respectively. In order to permit scraper iiights, such as nights 20 constructed -in accorda-nce with the principles of this invention, to be connected to the chain, suitable universal joints A are connected between longitudinally spaced pairs of links -B in suitable longitudinally spaced locations along the chain las desired. As is'also known, each universal joint A has two generally cylindrical, tubular members 6 and 7 having laterally spaced parallel axes which extend transversely yof the longitudinal .axis of the conveyor chain. :Each member `6 and 7 has cooperable portions extending laterally yfrom the adjacent sides which portions are suitably horizontally pivotably connected together by a suitable vertically extending pin 8 which pin 8y also extends perpendicular to a plane that conta-ins the axes of the tubular members 6 and 7. Each ltubular member 6 and 7 has a cylindrical bore 9 that extends laterally therethrough (FIG. Z). As shown the tubular members 6 of each joint A are located adjacent each other and are connected to the scraper flights 20 -as will be more fully explained hereinafter whereas tubular members 7 of each universal joint A are located remote from each other and are suitably pivotably connected to the chain links B by laterally extending elongated pins 10. In `addition the adjacent tubular ymembers 6 are provided with suitable coplanar annular surfaces 11 at veach of their ends. Inasmuch as various suitable universal joints `for such purpose are well known in the art further description thereof is not believed to be warranted.

Each scraper ight 20 comprises a rectangular cross sectional base portion 30y from which'an integral elongated triangular cross sectional body portion 3-1 extends. The body portion 31 has an` integral enlarged por-tion 32 at its outer end which may assume lany ldesired shape or size. The base portion 30) of each scraper flight 20 has a vertically extending pla-ne surface 21 at the end thereof remote from the portion 32 which surface 21 lies in parallel spaced .adjacent relationship to the outer end coplanar annular surfaces' 11 at one end of adjacent tubular members J6. The base portion 30 is trapezoidal in lateral cross section with an upper surface 33 being parallel with a lower surface y34 and to which surfaces 33 and 34 the vertically extending surface 21 is generally perpendicular. The base portion 30 is provided with a slanting side 22 opposite to the vertically extending plane surface 21V which side 22 tapers generally downwardly and outwardly from the ver-tical. It will be understood that the directions such as vertical, horizontally `and downwardly are relative terms and are used fwhen viewing FIGS. 2 and 3 in their normal position as shown and -that the inventive concept as applied herein can be .used in directions other than .that specified. The directio-ns used 'are for convenience and ease of understanding. The trapezoidal lateral cross sectional base 30 presents yan upper surface 33- of less width than the lower surface 34.

vExtending laterally centrally outwardly lfrom the slanting side 22 of each base 30 is the elongated body portion 31 which is `generally triangular in lateral cross section (FIG. 4). The apex 29 of the triangular shaped body portion 31 extends on the same plane as the upper surface 33 of the base portion 30* whereas the lower surface of the base portion 28 of the triangular shaped body portion 31 extends on the same plane las the lower surface 34 of the base portion 30. yIt will be understood that the heretofore described conllguration of lthe flight may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. As show-n, the sides of the body portion 31 diverge downwardly and outwardly toward the base portion 28, however, .the contour of the diverging sides of the portion 31 may be concave or variations thereon as desired. The specific embodiment shown in PIG. 4 discloses the sides of the portion 31 diverging generally downwardly and 'gradually merging into the upper surface of the base portion 28 and thereafter the upper surfaces of base portion 28 diverge generally outwardly and gradually downwardly.

The base portion 30 off each flight 20 is also provided with a pair of spaced parallel stepped bores 35 extending therethrough whose `axes are normal to the surface 21 and which bores 35 are located on opposite sides of the body portion 31 respectively. Each bore 35 has a relu-ced diameter bore portion 36 intersecting and extending inwardly from the slanting side 22 Vand an enlarged diameter bore portion 37 intersecting and extending inwardly from the abutting surface 21 into axial alignment with the bore portion 316. The juncture of the enlarged bore portion 37 of bore 35 with the reduced bore portion 36 is formed to provide a suitable annular shoulder 38 for a purpose to be described.

To properly assemble a pair of scraper flights 20l to opposite sides of a universal joint A, respectively, the bores 35 of cach scraper llight 20 are laterally spaced so as to be aligned with the respective bores 9 lof the adjacent tubular members 6 of a universal joint A. When assembled `the vertically extend-ing surface Z1 of each opposed scraper flight base portion 30 lies closely adjacent the respective outer coplanar annular surfaces 11 of the adjacent tubular members 6 leaving a clearance space c therebetween Lfor a purpose to be described. Elongated stepped pins or stud bolts (FIG. Q.) each having threaded ends of reduced diameter anda diametrically enlarged intermediate portion are press fitted into the respective opposed and aligned bores 35 of the base por-tions .and a sliding llt with the bores 9 of the tubular members 6 in alignment therewith. The junctures of the enlarged portion of each stepped pin or stud bolt 25 with the reduced portions of the pin or stud bolt 25 provides longitudinally spaced shoul-ders 40 which engage tthe opposed annular shoulders 38 in the bores 35 of opposed base portions 30 to locate the opposed flights 20 with respect to the pins 25. The shoulders 38 of bore thus determines to what extent to which the scraper llights 21 will be press tted onto pins 25. Thus the shoulders 38 of fthe respective opposed scraper flights 21 enga-ging the respective spaced pairs of pins 25 establishes the clearance space c between each vertically extending surface IZl of each opposed scraper llight base portion 30 and the respective adjacent outer coplanar annular surfaces 11 of tubular members d. It will be understood that the clearance space c may be suitably varied to prov-ide sutlicient moving clearance so that where a sprocket dri-ves the chain links and the accompanying scraper flights 20 thereby; relative movement between the pairs of driven chain links including universal joints A and the respective pins 25 along with .their supporting scraper flights 20 -Will be permitted to prevent binding as the chain links and scraper flights '20 pass over a sprocket. The press lit of the scraper flight 20 onto pin 25 distributes :the stresses `as will be more fully understood by the description -given hereinafter. It will be noted that the threaded end of each pin or stud bolt 25 extends a suitable distance beyond each slanting surface 22 of the base 28 for a purpose to be described.

A suitably contoured tapered wedge shaped washer 43 acting as a llller (FIG. 2) is placed on each reduced portion of each pin 25 with side surfaces 44 thereof abuttingly engaging the complementary slanting surfaces 22 of the base portion 30, respectively. Each wedged shaped washer 43 is axially larger at the top than at the bottom and has an outer surface `45 remote from the surface 44 which ysurface 45 is rgenerally vertical and parallel to the surfaces 'Z1 of the base portions 30 when the washers 43 are located on the pins 25. Suitable nuts `50 are threaded onto the threaded ends of the pins 25 whereby the annular base surfaces of the nuts 50 suitably abuttin'gly engage the planar surfaces 45 of the tapered Washers 43, respectively, to wedge the surfaces 44 into complementary abutting engagement with the slanting sides 22 of the base portions 30 with spaced shoulders 48 abutting annular shoulders 38 respectively to thereby rigidly secure the scraper flights 20 to the pins 25' and thus provide 1a unitary scraper flight structure which distributes the stresses and avoids concentration thereof and yet provides readily replaceability.

In addition, each tapered washer 43 has a substantially inverted triangular peripheral shape with a top surface 46 and two converging side surfaces 481 which surfaces 48 terminate into an apex `47. '[he Ibase surface 46 is thicker in cross section than the apex 47 as explained above. With such structure one side surface 48 of each washer 43 abuttingly engages (see FIG. 3) in complementary relationship the adjacent side surfaces of the diverging sides of the trianagular shaped body portions 31 of the scraper flights 20, respectively, to more rigidly secure the scraper flight 20 to the chain. Thus the tapered Washers 43 are prevented from turning because of the surfaces 44 being wedged against Iche slanting surfaces ZZ yof base portions 30 and the side surfaces 48 engaging the sides of the body portion 31 of the scraper lilights 20 respectively with axial relative movement being prevented by abutting shoulders 40 and 38 respectively on pins 25 and bore 38 of scraper flights 20 respectively. 'Ihus any action tending to rotate the nut 50 exerts a force on the complementary engaging surfaces which correspondingly resists any tendency of the scraper flights to move 'from their relative position with respect to their adjacent universal joints A.

If desired, to further secure the scraper lflights 20 in their respective oriented positions, the tapered washers 43 can be suitably welded such as by a tack weld 51 to the adjacent nuts 5 0 to thereby prevent the nuts 50 from rotating :and thereby positively insuring that there will be no accidental separation of parts, but rather a unitary cooperatingV structure which will permit easy replacement by suitably breaking the tack welds 51 to permit replacement of the scraper -llights 20. As shown the nuts 50 are preferably suitably contoured such as by providing cylindrical end portions which are suitably longitudinally serrated on their inner and outer surface portions so that a suitable tool may `grasp the ends thereof for quick removal.

Thus the facile manner of assembling the scraper flights, pins and chain assembly by providing ya novel spacing means for the relative stationary `flights and pins with respect to the chain reduces the stress concentrations with positive alignment at all times yet maintaining replace- 1. A conveyor device comprising, a universal joint structure having two units arranged in side to side relationship, each of said -units comprising a pair of elements pivotally connected in adjacent relationship to swivel in one plane, adjacent elements of said two units being spaced apart to receive `a sprocket tooth between them, a

pair of spaced members extending along the outer ends respectively of and connected respectively to `the adjacent ends Iof said adjacent spaced elements, at least one of said members comprising a conveyor Iflight having an integral arm portion extending outwardly therefrom, said connection having means for spacing said members with respect to said adjacent elements, and tapering ilockmeans cooperative `with :a portion of said flight to maintain -said flight in aligned relationship.

2. A conveyor device comprising, at least a pair of units arranged end to end, each 4of said units comprising a pair of elements pivotally lconnected to swivel in one plane, adjacent elements of said pair of units being spaced apart to receive a sprocket tooth between them, a pair of conveyorflights extending outwardly respectively from the opposite sides of adjacent elements, the adjacent portions of said adjacent elements and said Aflights yhaving continuous apertures extending transversely therethrough, pivot pins extending through said elements and said ights through said apertures respectively, said pins journaled in said elements respectively to provide for the swiveling of said units transversely ofsaid plane, said pins Ihaving means thereon for spacing said flights with respect to each other and said elements, and tapering lock means located on the respective ends of said pins engaging said flights to form a rigid unitary structure with said pins.

3. A conveyor device as set forth in claim. Q wherein said tapering lock means includes a tapered washer that engages a complementary tapered surface on said adjacent ight.

4. A conveyor device as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said tapered washers are welded respectively to their adjacent lock means.

5. In a conveyor chain, units arranged end to end but spaced apart to receive a sprocket tooth between them, each of said units having an aperture extending transversely of the length of the chain and in the end of each unit adjacent the other unit, a pivot pin journaled directly 4in each of said apertures and projecting outwardly from the sides of 4the associated unit, conveyor flights extending transversely of the chain from opposite sides thereof and each having a base extending along side the adjacent ends of said two units, said pins extending through said bases and havin-g their ends receiving a tapered washer respectively thereon engaging a complementary tapered portion of said conveyor flights, and securing means mounted on said ends of said pins outwardly of said tapered washers respectively and said securing means being welded to the adjacent ones of said tapered washers to `form a rigid structure.

6. ln a conveyor chain universal joint structure, two units arranged end tto end, each unit comprising a pair of elements and an upright pin pivotally connecting them, parallel members extending along the outer sides of one end of an element of one unit and along the outer sides of the adjacent end of one element of the other unit, each of said parallel members having a base with a rst planar surface engagingsaid adjacent outer sides of said adjacent end elements, transverse pins extending through l having an arm extending transversely of the length of 5 said universal joint structure and between the axes of the associated pins, said arm extending from the j-uncture of said pair of second planar surfaces, each end of each of `said transverse pins has means secured thereon including a tapered washer complementary engaging said second planar surfaces respectively to form a rigid structure.

7. lIn a conveyor chain universal joint structure, two pairs of elements arranged in alignment, said pairs of elements, having adjacent ends spaced apart to receive a sprocket tooth betweeny them, an upright pin pivotally connecting the elements of each pair to provide for their relative swivelling in one plane, each element of said pairs of elements having outer side surfaces defining .a pair of parallel planes normal to said rst mentioned plane, a pair of conveyor flight members at the opposite sides j of the chain, each of said flight members having a base extending along said outer side faces of the end portions of said adjacent elements t0 define a lirst planar surface, parallel spaced transversely extending pins connecting said members to said adjacent elements respectively, each of said members having a pair of second planar surfaces on said base at an offset angle to said first planar surface extending in the same general planar direction as said rst planar surface, each of said members having an arm extending transversely of the length of said universal joint structure and between the axes of said transversely extending pins, said arm extending outwardly from the juncture of said pair of second planar surfaces, each end of each of said transverse pins has means secured thereon including a tapered washer complementary engaging said second planar surfaces respectively to form a rigid structure, said pins l-ie normal to said lirst planar surfaces, and means mounted on the respective ends of said pins having a complementary surface to engage said tapered washers respectively to form la rigid structure.

8. In a conveyor chain, spaced elements arranged end to end to receive a sprocket tooth between them, each of said elements having spaced parallel outer planar side surfaces, a pivot pin extending through each of said elements and normal to said outer sides of each of said element thereof a distance exceeding the over-all width of said element, conveyor flights extending outwardly from opposite sides of the chain and each of said flights having a base with a rst planar surface extending alongside the adjacent outer sides of said elements and having spaced apertures for receiving said pins, said base having a ysecond planar surface spaced from said iirst planar surface diverging slightly from said first planar surface, means secured -to the respective outer ends of said pins having a tapering surface that is complementary to said diverging second planar surface to thereby secure said flights to said elements.

9. A conveyor chain having chain elements spaced apart to receive a sprocket tooth between them, pivot pins passing through said elements and projecting from the opposite sides thereof, side links one at each side of said chain elements and traversed near their opposite ends by said pivot pins, said pins retain said side links and chain elements together, a pair of conveyor flights extending outwardly from the opposite sides of said links, means detachably securing said yflights to said opposite sides of said chain respectively wherein each of said lmeans includes a portion having tapering surface that engages a complementary tapering surface on the adjacent llights to thereby securely lock said ights to said chain elements and prevent relative movement therebetween.

l0. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 9 wherein said securing means includes a nut threadedly secured 1,904,296 to said pin with said nut rigidly secured to said portion 2,450,501 of said securing means havin-g said tapering surfae. 2,889,916

References Cited in the le of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 660,084 Smith Oct 16, 1900 8 Royse f Apr. 18, 1933 Clarkson Oct. 5, 1948 Price s. June 9, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS: n

Germany Jan. 23, 1958 

1. A CONVEYOR DEVICE COMPRISING, A UNIVERSAL JOINT STRUCTURE HAVING TWO UNITS ARRANGED IN SIDE TO SIDE RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID UNITS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELEMENTS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED IN ADJACENT RELATIONSHIP TO SWIVEL IN ONE PLANE, ADJACENT ELEMENTS OF SAID TWO UNITS BEING SPACED APART TO RECEIVE A SPROCKET TOOTH BETWEEN THEM, A PAIR OF SPACED MEMBERS EXTENDING ALONG THE OUTER ENDS RESPECTIVELY OF AND CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID ADJACENT SPACED ELEMENTS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBERS COMPRISING A CONVEYOR FLIGHT HAVING AN INTEGRAL ARM PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID CONNECTION HAVING MEANS FOR SPACING SAID MEMBERS WITH RESPECT TO SAID ADJACENT ELEMENTS, AND TAPERING LOCK MEANS COOPERATIVE WITH A PORTION OF SAID FLIGHT TO MAINTAIN SAID FLIGHT IN ALIGNED RELATIONSHIP. 